Circuit starting from Saint-Georges d'Espéranche

In autumn, the Fromentaux woods are full of chestnuts. In good weather, you can see Mont Blanc and the Alps from the heights. The route also takes us to the small spring at Maison Badin, passes through La Beaume and Les Combes, crosses the small stream of La Vesonne and returns via the peaceful By pond.
We also walk alongside numerous meadows where horses graze.

Details

4357184
Creation:
Last update:
Last review:
  • Walking
    Activity: Walking
  • ↔
    Distance: 9.01 km
  • ◔
    Average duration: 2h 55 
  • ▲
    Difficulty: Easy

  • ⚐
    Back to start: Yes
  • ↗
    Ascent: + 118 m
  • ↘
    Descent: - 118 m

  • ▲
    Highest point: 432 m
  • ▼
    Lowest point: 344 m

Photos

Description of the walk

Park in the Place du Terreau car park. You can see the École du Château in the background.

(S/E) On the other side, when leaving the car park, turn left at the CA sign and go up Rue du Revoireau to the small roundabout

(1) Continue straight on Route du Revoireau. At the next roundabout, go straight ahead and leave the last houses of the village behind. At the three-way junction, turn left onto Chemin des Bruyères, then left again onto Chemin du Bois.

(2) After 100 metres, follow the dirt track that climbs up to the right. At the crossroads, take the track on the right. In good weather, you can see Mont Blanc in the distance. Climb up to the Brachet water tower and the relay antenna.

(3) Continue down the path on the right until you reach the road. When you reach the road, turn left and continue for about 150 metres.

(4) Take the path on the right to enter the Fromentaux chestnut grove. Continue straight ahead in the same direction.

(5) At the edge of the woods, you will arrive above Maison Badin. In front of the first building, spring water flows from the pretty fountain. After the houses, follow the road until you reach the next path, which you should take on the right. 100 m further down, turn right again in front of the wall onto the path overlooking the small Vesonne stream.

(6) Cross the tiny bridge over the Vesonne and go up the path.

(7) When you reach the farm, continue along the road to the right. Take the first road on the left, then turn right again after 150 metres. Take the small path on the right and, when you reach the road, continue straight ahead, slightly to the right. After the houses, turn right to rejoin the Route du Revoireau.

(8) Turn left to go around Le Pilon. Continue straight ahead at the next intersection and pass some houses about 200 m further on. After these houses, go down the small dirt track on the right, which becomes tarmac again at Les Combes. You will reach the small pond at Le By.

(9) Take the time to walk around it (about 400 m) before returning to the tarmac road and going up to Chemin du Sautaret.

(10) Turn right to reach the very first roundabout on the route.

(1) Then descend to the left to the car park (S/E).

Waypoints

  1. S/E : km 0 - alt. 398 m - Place du Terreau
  2. 1 : km 0.14 - alt. 401 m - Crossroads of the circular
  3. 2 : km 1.04 - alt. 398 m - Start of the dirt track
  4. 3 : km 1.84 - alt. 432 m - Brachet Water Tower - Antenna
  5. 4 : km 2.33 - alt. 426 m - Bois du Fromentaux
  6. 5 : km 3.24 - alt. 393 m - Exit from the woods
  7. 6 : km 4.04 - alt. 364 m - Bridge over the - Vesonne (cours d'eau) - Affluent de la Gère
  8. 7 : km 4.41 - alt. 400 m - La Beaume - Farm
  9. 8 : km 5.94 - alt. 407 m - Revoireau road
  10. 9 : km 8.02 - alt. 349 m - Étang du By
  11. 10 : km 8.6 - alt. 398 m - Sautaret
  12. S/E : km 9.01 - alt. 398 m - Place du Terreau

Notes

The starting point is in a car park a stone's throw from the village centre.

Apart from the Revoireau road, the routes taken are very small country roads or tarmac paths with very little traffic.

Worth a visit

In autumn, bring bags with you as the Fromentaux woods are full of chestnut trees. And if the weather is clear, you can see Mont Blanc and the Alps from the heights.

At the Étang du By, you may come across one or two fishermen or families picnicking. In summer, you are sure to hear frogs croaking. Take the time to walk around the lake (about 400 m) because the view from the bank opposite the path, with the reflection of the willows on the calm water, is very pleasant.

Reviews and comments

4.4 / 5
Based on 19 reviews

Reliability of the description
4.4 / 5
Ease of following the route
4.5 / 5
Route interest
4.3 / 5
dougere
dougere

Overall rating : 4.7 / 5

Date of your route : Nov 04, 2024
Reliability of the description : ★★★★★ Very good
Ease of following the route : ★★★★★ Very good
Route interest : ★★★★☆ Good
Very busy route : No

Pleasant and easy circuit. Ideal for a sunny afternoon. Very peaceful pond with benches and two tables.

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becchi michel
becchi michel

Overall rating : 4.7 / 5

Date of your route : Jul 24, 2024
Reliability of the description : ★★★★★ Very good
Ease of following the route : ★★★★★ Very good
Route interest : ★★★★☆ Good
Very busy route : No

Beautiful route, but a bit too much tarmac (not very busy): best avoided in hot weather.

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drimic
drimic

Overall rating : 4.7 / 5

Date of your route : Jun 30, 2024
Reliability of the description : ★★★★★ Very good
Ease of following the route : ★★★★☆ Good
Route interest : ★★★★★ Very good
Very busy route : No

A lovely short hike with beautiful views of Pilat in a varied landscape

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Utilisateur 338464
Utilisateur 338464

Overall rating : 3.7 / 5

Date of your route : Apr 29, 2024
Reliability of the description : ★★★☆☆ Average
Ease of following the route : ★★★★☆ Good
Route interest : ★★★★☆ Good
Very busy route : No

Possible confusion at step 5 when leaving the woods; take the path opposite and do not turn left

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sba38
sba38

Overall rating : 4.3 / 5

Date of your route : Feb 21, 2024
Reliability of the description : ★★★★☆ Good
Ease of following the route : ★★★★★ Very good
Route interest : ★★★★☆ Good
Very busy route : No

Lovely views, a beautiful and easy walk!

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PatriciaBS
PatriciaBS

Overall rating : 5 / 5

Date of your route : Apr 13, 2023
Reliability of the description : ★★★★★ Very good
Ease of following the route : ★★★★★ Very good
Route interest : ★★★★★ Very good
Very busy route : Yes

A very pleasant hike, alternating between paths and woodland. And the end by the pond is a real reward!

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zonzon
zonzon

Overall rating : 4.3 / 5

Date of your route : Nov 27, 2022
Reliability of the description : ★★★★☆ Good
Ease of following the route : ★★★★☆ Good
Route interest : ★★★★★ Very good
Very busy route : No

A beautiful route with breathtaking views of Mont Blanc, the Vercors massif and Pilat. We cycled in cloudy weather with a strong southerly wind, but we were well dressed so it wasn't a problem.
We took a wrong turn after Maison Badin and realised our mistake a few hundred metres further on (we went straight ahead when we should have turned right). Fortunately, a lady who saw us came out of her house to give us directions and put us back on the right track, which involved crossing the Vézone and going back up the path...
The By pond was our reward, well sheltered from the wind, with just a few ripples on the pond and the trees in their autumn colours. It was magnificent!
It's best to avoid this route if it has rained in the previous days as there are a few muddy sections. The route is well balanced between quiet tarmac roads and paths through woods and fields.
Thank you for this beautiful walk, which we will do again...

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sisaso
sisaso

Overall rating : 5 / 5

Date of your route : Sep 19, 2022
Reliability of the description : ★★★★★ Very good
Ease of following the route : ★★★★★ Very good
Route interest : ★★★★★ Very good
Very busy route : No

A beautiful walk alternating between views of the Alpine peaks and the Monts du Lyonnais, with sections through the woods.
A lovely surprise at the end of the walk with the peaceful By pond.
Thank you for suggesting this beautiful hike.

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patball
patball

Overall rating : 5 / 5

Date of your route : May 08, 2022
Reliability of the description : ★★★★★ Very good
Ease of following the route : ★★★★★ Very good
Route interest : ★★★★★ Very good
Very busy route : No

A very beautiful walk alternating between woodland and fields, roads (with little traffic) and paths, and small streams. You need to pay attention to changes in direction, but the description is perfect and the GPS track is accurate. No worries when crossing farms: the dogs are friendly or tied up.
The By pond at the end of the walk is a very pleasant spot for a hearty picnic.
Thanks to the author for this route.

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evy2369
evy2369

Overall rating : 3.3 / 5

Date of your route : Apr 29, 2022
Reliability of the description : ★★★☆☆ Average
Ease of following the route : ★★★☆☆ Average
Route interest : ★★★★☆ Good
Very busy route : No

A pleasant and easy walk, ending at a beautiful pond. However, much of the route is on roads with no shade.

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bernardino
bernardino ★

Hello. Rereading the author's description, the Badin house is located well beyond the road; you have to cross the Fromentaux woods, as specified by the author:

(3) Continue down the path on the right until you reach the road. When you reach the road, turn left and continue for about 150 metres.

(4) Take the path on the right to enter the Fromentaux chestnut woods. Continue straight ahead in the same direction.

(5) At the edge of the woods, you will arrive above Maison Badin.

Have a nice day!

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suz70
suz70

Overall rating : 2 / 5

Date of your route : Apr 18, 2022
Reliability of the description : ★★☆☆☆ Disappointing
Ease of following the route : ★★☆☆☆ Disappointing
Route interest : ★★☆☆☆ Disappointing
Very busy route : No

We didn't manage to complete the hike. When we arrived at the water tower, we took a path to the right until we reached the road, and then we didn't see any fountains or the Badin house

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Rochefl
Rochefl

Overall rating : 4.7 / 5

Date of your route : Apr 09, 2022
Reliability of the description : ★★★★★ Very good
Ease of following the route : ★★★★★ Very good
Route interest : ★★★★☆ Good
Very busy route : No

It took us 2 hours and 25 minutes to complete this circuit, without walking quickly, and walking around the lake at the end. The previous comments were useful for finding the paths easily. The roads were quiet. A pleasant walk with lots of wind.

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Fabrice0869
Fabrice0869

Overall rating : 4.7 / 5

Date of your route : Jan 16, 2022
Reliability of the description : ★★★★★ Very good
Ease of following the route : ★★★★★ Very good
Route interest : ★★★★☆ Good
Very busy route : No

A great, easy walk, covering 9 km in 2 hours and 25 minutes.
On a clear day, you can see the Vercors massif and the Alps. The tarmac roads are really quiet. The sections through the woods are nice.
Regarding point 4, I confirm what has been said before. Just follow the yellow markings until you reach the edge of the forest.
Just after leaving the forest, at the first farm, there is a guard dog, but it is tied up, so don't panic if you see it.
Point 7: you'll have no trouble finding this wide grassy path; you'll see an orange arrow on the tarmac showing you the direction.

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JeanPapy74
JeanPapy74

Overall rating : 4.7 / 5

Date of your route : Feb 28, 2021
Reliability of the description : ★★★★★ Very good
Ease of following the route : ★★★★★ Very good
Route interest : ★★★★☆ Good
Very busy route : No

A lovely little route on quiet roads with little traffic around St Georges d'Espéranche.
Can be done in half a day.

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